In response to remarks made by the interior minister questioning whether the Gulf state should be hosting the World Cup, Qatar summoned Germany’s ambassador on Friday, the foreign ministry said.
Ahead of the beginning of the football tournament on November 20, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser also criticized Qatar’s human rights record in a televised interview on Thursday.
According to a statement, the ambassador received an “objection memo” from Qatar’s foreign ministry.
The letter underlined Doha’s “disappointment and utter rejection and condemnation of sentiments” made by Faeser on Qatar’s “hosting of the World Cup.”
The ministry “demanded an explanation for these statements.”
On Monday, Faeser was slated to travel to Qatar.
Fraser said that Qatar’s hosting of the competition was “extremely problematic” for the German government in an interview with the ARD network that aired on Thursday.
Some requirements must be met, and it would be preferable if such states were not given tournament awards, she continued.
The nation has come under heavy fire for how it is purported to handle migrant labor, as well as for its treatment of women’s rights and LGBTQ issues.
This is the first time a foreign ambassador has been contacted for such remarks.
Before meeting with the chairman of the German football federation, Faeser announced in a statement that the topic of rights will be discussed.
